Supporting Southeast Asian Studies

Carolina has won a $900,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation through its Luce Initiative on Southeast Asia, for the project “Bringing Southeast Asia Home.”

Through efforts coordinated by the Carolina Asia Center, this multi-year grant will grow Carolina’s work on Southeast Asia and enhance the University’s ability to serve as the hub for Asian studies in the Southeast region of the U.S.

The University chose to pursue this award to build on existing strengths and fulfill a commitment to the study of Asia. Carolina’s strategic plan, Carolina Next: Innovations for Public Good, identifies Asia as a strategic priority for the institution.

The grant will also provide targeted support for students with undergraduate summer research internships, graduate student dissertation completion awards and a student working group. It will also increase language classes at Carolina and expand Southeast Asia programming.

Grant funds will afford meaningful opportunities for faculty as well. The University will bring distinguished post-docs to campus to work on Southeast Asian topics and fund UNC-Chapel Hill faculty members who do not have a background in Southeast Asian studies to explore the region and how it connects to their research.

To build Southeast Asian studies across the University, UNC-Chapel Hill will also launch an interdisciplinary minor in Southeast Asian studies, the first of its kind in the U.S. Southeast.

“This investment by the Luce Foundation will help us meet student demand for cultural courses and language instruction, while creating a new collaboration to bridge the faculty’s global expertise with growing Asian American programming and courses at UNC,” said Rudi Colloredo-Mansfeld, senior associate dean for social sciences and global programs.

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